Leveling device



Oct. 16, 1951 A H PETERS 2,571,287

' LEVELING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1949 Patented Oct. 16, `1951 -`UN1T-ED,sTAri-;s PATENT OFFICEA LEvELmG DEVICE Aurea n. Peters, Davis, Calif.'

Application September 9, 1949, Serial N o.-114,808

` My invention relates to a leveling device, and it is an object of the same to provide a "simple device that can be made at smallcost and which will not be liable to get out of order or to Wear out except after long-continued use. Neither is it liable to be broken, it being very sturdy.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a device of the character described that shall be adapted for use in various situations by simple adjustments and alterations. Thus it can be used as a long-legged device of nearly conventional nature, or it can be changed in very short time-about four minutesinto a compact portable device that can be carried in one hand by a workman in climbing a high building or framework, in passing through narrow and tortuous passages, and the like. In its portable form it can be set up in a window frame or on a sill, on a stump or fence post, an I- beam or a girder and many other places where the ordinary three-leggedv structure is inconvenient or even impossible of use.

Another object is to provide a construction that is not easily upset or otherwise affected by the wind, which is a serious detriment to the use of conventional devices in many situations.

Referring to the annexed drawings, which are made a part of this application and in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts:

Fig 1 is an elevation of the device of my ininvention, with parts broken away,

Fig. 2, a similar view of the upper parts on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away,

Fig. 3, a similar view, illustrating the device with a wind guard, and

Fig. 4, a modification.

In the drawings, reference character I indicates a base that has depending lugs II near its outer margin, these lugs being spaced away from the edge of the base, and having legs I2, usually three in number, pivotally attached thereto, at I 2a.

The base has a central opening which has a wall in the form of a spherical zone that is shown in Fig. 2 at I3 as fitting closely about the under portion of a spherical support I4, or rather about the hemispherical lower portion of the support, which may be shaped as a ball or may have other forms in its upper parts, it being a purpose of my device to permit free swinging in all directions for the said support.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, a rod I5 is threaded through the ball I4 and 4 Claims. (Cl. 33-73) 2V Y Y into or through a lower portion of a yoke I that carries a telescope I8. A level I9 maybe mounted on the telescope or otherwisel xed with-relation thereto. The rod is held against rotation by means of a locknut 2) bearing against the ball-shaped support I4. At its lower end the rod carries a plumb bob 22 sef` cured thereto by a setscrew 2|.

Since much difhculty is encountered in the use of leveling devices in certain parts of the country by reason of wind that upsets them or throws them down from elevated places, I have provided means for minimizing this difficulty or even doing away with it entirely, such means comprising a skirt (Fig. 3) that is built to stand on the ground or any other reasonably level horizontal surface with its lower end and is shaped at its upper end to rest flat against the under surface of the base Ill. This will suiiice in ordinary circumstances but for greater assurance the base is formed with lugs I I to which the legs are pivoted and these lugs are so arranged that the skirt 24 ts more or less closely about them and s0 provides a very secure holding means for the parts. The skirt 24 is shown as imperforate or substantially so, to keep the wind from the plumb bob, but could be made to surround the same only half way or thereabout under some conditions. It will be understood that the stai is adjustable in length by means of the telescoping parts shown or in other manner so that its length can readily be altered when the skirt is applied to the leveling device, as is done mostly under circumstances where a portable device is preferred, though not necessarily so.

It is within the intended scope of my invention to use a roller bearing such as that shown in Fig. 4 in place of the plain rocking bearing of Figs. 1 and 2. In such case the ball bearing will be mounted upon the same base IU and the aperture at I3 will be the same as in Fig. 2, such shape permitting the staff I5 and connected parts to rock freely. A plain ball race 23 to contain the balls 25 has been found satisfactory, the race being secured to the base by screws or tacks 2B and preventing the balls from escaping, due to the curvature of the ball I4 toward the upper margin of the race '23.

It will be convenient in some situations for the user to have means available for raising the levelling device to a higher elevation than the normal low elevation of the portable device as shown in Fig. 3. For such situations I provide telescoping legs on the outside of the skirt, ar-

3 ranged preferably in the usual tripod formation. Such legs are shown at 21 and it will be seen that they can be extended and secured in extended position by screws 28 when desired.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in the devices herein disclosed, all without departing from the spirit of the invention; and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described inthe 'specifica-tion, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

It should be noted that if the legs be removed-` all parts may be pla-ced in a cone of metal about" 24 to 36 inches high, e. g., the metal skirtgfand so can be carried as a compact portable device with a minimum of diiiiculty.

Having thus fully described'my-inventiom .what

I claim is:

1. A leveling device comprising a base'l'raving4 about the outer margin of said base, saidv lugs being adapted for attachment of legsto the ba'se, and a skirt shaped at its upper end to t against the under face of the base outside saidlugs, Vsaid skirt extending below the ievelvof said plumb- 4 bob to protect the same against the action of wind.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the lugs are perforated for pivotal attachment of legs thereto, and wherein the skirt ts about said lugs.

3. A device as in claim 1, including legs mounted on said skirt at intervals about the same and projecting below. the lower end of, the skirt.

4; A device asf-iii claimv 3;.'includi'ng means for ads'tiig'said legs 'in the 'ir'zti'n 'of their length.

ALFRED H. PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED A 4The following references are of record in the file Yo'fth'is patent:

'Niti-ifSTATEs PATENTS Name Date 22,598 Windle -..a Jan. l1, 1859 622g045Y Hein r Mar; 28, 1899 I Roake Jan. 9; 1*,2055705 Bristol .4. Nov. 21, 1916'A FOREIGN PATENTS Number` K Country Date v l 600,214 Germany-' Y July 19, 1934 

